Bangladesh scripted a historic moment in Test cricket by defeating Pakistan national cricket team for the first time in a home Test match. Powered by a sensational five-wicket haul from Nahid Rana in the second innings, Bangladesh sealed a memorable 104-run victory in the rain-affected opening Test to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
The hosts turned a contest heavily disrupted by rain into a statement win on the final day, showcasing aggression and composure to outplay Pakistan and secure crucial World Test Championship (WTC) points.
After posting 413 in their first innings, Bangladesh watched Pakistan respond strongly with 386. Persistent rain on Days 3 and 4 reduced the match to a tense final-day shootout.
Bangladesh showed positive intent from the outset on the last day, scoring quickly before declaring at 240/9 and setting Pakistan a target of 267.
At tea, Pakistan appeared well placed at 4 down, but the innings unraveled dramatically in the final session. Apart from Abdullah Fazal’s fighting 66, Pakistan’s batting lineup failed to capitalise on promising starts.
The turning point came through Nahid Rana’s fiery spell. Combining raw pace with disciplined lines, the young pacer ripped through Pakistan’s middle and lower order. Dismissals of Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan triggered a collapse as Bangladesh stormed to victory.
Nahid finished with a brilliant five-wicket haul, further cementing his reputation as one of Bangladesh’s rising red-ball stars.
The win also had a major impact on the World Test Championship standings. Bangladesh climbed from eighth to sixth place after recording their first victory of the current WTC cycle. Their percentage of points (PCT) improved significantly from 16.67 to 44.44.
Pakistan, meanwhile, slipped from fifth to seventh after suffering their second defeat in three matches. Although their points tally remains at 12, their PCT dropped sharply from 50.00 to 33.33 following the loss.
With the victory, Bangladesh have not only taken an unassailable lead in the series but also delivered one of the most significant Test wins in the nation’s cricketing history.
